Cape dory

[billgcroton]

i am interested in Cape Dory boats and am asking for opinions on their construction, sailing ability etc.

[Maine Sail]

Vey well built boats but slower than a snail and very small for thier length. They have a fairly short waterline length but track straight. They tend to be rather wet in a chop and they have a ton of exterior wood to maintain. I hope this helps...
-Rodd C.

[Jeff_H]

I would generally support what Rodd says, except adding that the early ones were not all that well built and I also don''t like their motion in a chop.

Jeff

[maestro]

A Cape Dory 28 sailed from NY to Bermuda last summer from my Yacht Club...the owner said the boat was as tough as nails. except for the blown out sails on the way)

[JWag]

Built like a tank and sails like one too. Need heavy air to make the boat perform.

[waltzingmatilda]

Jon,
For some reason some who have never sailed a Cape Dory have the view that they are overly slow. While not a performance boat like many newer boats, they are well built, good tracking, and stable boats that are very safe in big winds and seas. And, their lines are great. No, they''re not fast boats to race in, but they do all right, and they really make up for that in the way they perform when conditions are rough. I feel very safe on my Cape Dory and mine is only a 26 foot boat. They are also backed by a strong owners network, and there are Cape Dory Fleets all around the US, including two in the Chesapeake Bay, one in the Carolinas, one up the Northeast coast, a newly formed one on the Great Lakes, one in California, etc. If you want to hear what the owners of Cape Dory boats say about them go to the Cape Dory website, www.capedory.org, and ask the same question there. If you want further info from just one person, feel free to email me at the address above.
Peter K., S/V Waltzing Matilda
Cape Dory 26, Hull #42